Entertainment

Banned Venezuelan Channel Turns to YouTube

An opposition-aligned, Venezuelan television channel RCTV, creator of the news show "The Observer", has been banned from broadcasting over the airwaves by President Hugo Chavez, and has taken its show to the Internet, on YouTube.

About a week ago, "The Observer" was forced off the air, but has continued to tape its programs and is uploading them to the popular video-sharing site. The channel was accused of inciting a failed coup in 2002 and violating broadcast laws, causing Chavez to refuse the renewal of the channel's license. This decision is looked down upon by many foreign government officials including the State's own Condie Rice, press-freedom groups and International organizations. Students across Venezuela took matters into their own hands, eventually inciting a riot. The RCTV channel was reported as having the highest subscription rate for the week.

Will Venezuela take the next step and ban YouTube from the entire country? See a list of other countries that have banned the video sharing site here.

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